Museum celebrates Apollo 11 by unveiling big ol’ moon rock

BETHEL, Maine – The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing by displaying some special moon rocks.

Part of the commemoration includes unveiling the largest piece of the moon to fall to Earth at a special preview event on Friday in Bethel.

The rock weighs in at 59 kilograms — or nearly 128 pounds. Other moon rocks are also at the museum.

These rocks weren’t collected by astronauts. They fell to earth as lunar meteorites.

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, which will officially open later this summer, says it will house one of the world’s foremost meteorite collections. It’ll also have a comprehensive collection of gems and minerals unearthed in New England.